The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Wayne Junior Corbett (MCSN: 2134448), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Rifleman with Company B, Third Reconnaissance Battalion, THIRD Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On 17 December 1966, Private First Class Corbett was a member of a nine-man reconnaissance patrol operating deep in Viet Cong controlled territory in the Phu Bai area. Inserted by helicopter the previous day, the patrol had conducted two successful ambushes against Viet Cong units moving along a main trail. In both contacts with the enemy, Private First Class Corbett displayed exceptional presence of mind and uncommon courage under enemy fire. Continuing its mission, the patrol was in another ambush site along the same trail when two Viet Cong were observed on a ridge three hundred meters to the north. Unhesitatingly, a Marine shot and killed one enemy while the other fled. Moving out of the ambush position to search for the enemy, the four Marines had advanced halfway up the ridge when they came under intense enemy automatic weapons fire from an estimated fifteen Viet Cong. Simultaneously, the remainder of the patrol came under heavy attack from the same group of Viet Cong plus an additional force of the same size moving in on their flank. In the ensuing fire fight, one of the search team Marines called that he was low on ammunition for his M-79 grenade launcher and needed an M-14 rifle which he had left at the ambush position. Despite the heavy automatic weapons fire, Private First Class Corbett, with complete disregard for his own safety, moved to assist his fellow Marine. Picking up the M-14 rifle, he maneuvered out of his position into the heavy enemy crossfire. Continuing forward across 150 meters of exposed terrain, he delivered the weapon to his companion. With the additional two rifles, the Marine search team boldly assaulted the enemy position. Firing his weapon and shouting words of encouragement to his companions, Private First Class Corbett assisted in overrunning the enemy position. With the position secured, Private First Class Corbett and his companions directed their fire on the other enemy position, forcing the numerically superior enemy to flee in panic and confusion. His heroic actions undoubtedly saved the life of one Marine and were instrumental in inflicting three confirmed dead and numerous probably casualties on the enemy. By his extraordinary courage, bold initiative and selfless devotion to duty in the face of extreme personal danger, Private First Class Corbett upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.